Part I: Studying for Exams at ETH

It is currently near the middle of January (my last month in Switzerland). While typically, I would be starting IAP,  I am in Zürich studying for my final exams instead.

ETH exams are divided into end-of-semester exams and session exams, the latter of which I have. The final exams can weigh up to 100% of your final grade, different from how the grade percentages are broken down (assignments, midterms, final projects, etc.) at MIT. Session exams take place from the last week of January to the middle of February, and ETH students get time between Christmas and the session exam period to study. Despite the overlap with the start of the spring semester at MIT, exchange students are allowed to take session exams proctored at MIT as a distance exam. In my case, I will take one session exam at ETH and my final two at MIT. A typical day during this time can vary depending on the day of the week, but it primarily consists of studying for my session exams. 

1. Morning

Usually, I’m awake by 8 or 9 AM and get ready for the day before heading out to a cafe or library to study. This can be at Nude Cafe near Bad Unterer Letten (where I spend the beginning of the semester swimming in the Limmat, aka the river that runs through Zürich) or Boreal Cafe near Bahnhofstrasse to Zentralbibliothek. It also gives me the chance to take a nice walk despite the chilly temperatures. This semester, I am taking three classes with all session exams (Natural Language Processing, Computer Graphics, and Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence). Studying for those takes up a huge chunk of my time as I catch up on lectures, finish any remaining assignments, review all the material, and do practice exams. 

2. Afternoon

My lunch has primarily consisted of salami, cheese, and bread or whatever I can scrounge up for food in my fridge. During breaks, I do my grocery shopping at Aldi, Lidl, Migros, or Coopwhich gives me an opportunity to take a walk around the city (Bürkliplatz and several bridges around the city have some wonderfully relaxing views!).

3. Evening

My evenings usually start with cooking and/or eating dinner. My go-to recipe these days has been kimchi fried rice because it is (1) relatively easy and quick to make, (2) pretty convenient, and (3) fulfills my craving for Asian food. If I eat out, I generally make a quick walk around the corner to get a kebab from ZüriBistro or whatever that’s cheap (or relatively cheap because everything is expensive in Zürich) and nearby. Then, I am off to more studying! 

4. Finding Flexibility + Taking a Break

Unfortunately, my daily life is not especially exciting and can sometimes be quite stressful. However, I always try to take a break, whether chilling at a new cafe, going to the zoo to see the penguin parade, spending the evening at Moods, a local jazz bar, or skiing.  Some days, I wake up and don’t feel motivated or up to studying, which is okay! Taking a break has always been a struggle for me, but recently, I’ve been finding that doing so has been helping my mental health a lot.  

As I wrap up my last couple weeks in Zürich, I can’t help but reflect on my time here (when I am not furiously studying). For the past five months, Zürich has become a little like home to me, thanks to the many wonderful people I have met here.

Part II: Back at MIT

I am finally back in the US after five long months! Catching up with my family and friends has been exciting and I have returned to MIT with a renewed invigoration. But since coming back to campus, I can’t help but feel disoriented. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was immersed in a place significantly different from Boston. Now, I have been thrust back into my “normal life.” Navigating this weird sense of disconnection has been challenging, and it still is. 

There is no doubt that I have changed significantly after my semester abroad. Since coming back, I have realized just how much. Not only are there differences in my health (i.e. sleep schedule and amount of exercise) and perception of normality in daily life (ex. accessible public transportation/trams in Zürich), but there are also many shifts in my personal perspectives and goals. Part of this gap relates to my feeling of being misunderstood or being unable to relate to those who don’t share the same experience. I am struggling to reconcile my growth with my old surroundings. 

But just as studying abroad was part of my journey, experiencing this reverse culture shock is a continuation of that. Taking the lessons that I have learned abroad, such as setting small and achievable goals for reintegration, I have found that exploring familiar places with new eyes and engaging in hobbies I have gained during my time in Switzerland (ex. baking, skiing, and photography) have helped ease the transition. 

I was fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to study abroad in Switzerland and have experienced many new things during my time here. Embracing the lessons from abroad, I have gained a more balanced and enriching perspective, one that I keep with me while at MIT. Being in Zürich has expanded my perspective on how I value time when I’m studying or even working abroad and has opened up the idea of spending more time abroad to me. It has truly been a path-changing experience for me, and I look forward to taking what I’ve learned during my time in Switzerland with me in the future.